Most of us will take a daily pill at some point in our lives. But getting it to go down smoothly can be a struggle, especially if you’re taking multiple medications at once. Among 100 patients surveyed at a clinic in Iowa, half reported some degree of trouble getting pills down their throats.
“Difficulty swallowing pills can occur for several reasons,” says Alyssa Wozniak, PharmD, a clinical assistant professor at D’Youville School of Pharmacy in Buffalo, New York. Dry mouth, fear of swallowing tablets or medical illnesses such as stroke or Parkinson’s disease can all play a role. And some pills are simply more difficult to wolf down than others, says Wozniak.
The inability to swallow can be frustrating or even scary, such as when the pill becomes stuck in your throat. In extreme cases, if a pill is lodged and won’t go down, you may need to visit the emergency room. Certain medications can irritate the esophagus, says Wozniak. “And if you have this feeling often, especially if you have trouble swallowing things other than pills, it is important to seek medical attention to rule out conditions that could be causing this,” she says.
For some people, it’s also helpful to avoid taking pills right before going to bed. “Lying down can sometimes lead to feeling as if the pill is stuck,” says Wozniak. But in most cases, you can wash a stuck pill down with more water.
Better yet, you can prevent the problem — and make sure your medications go down smoothly every time — with these 4 tips.
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Tip #1: Sip water before you swallow your pill.
You probably already drink water to rinse the pill down. That’s good! Keep doing that. But add an extra step: Drink before you introduce the pill.
“Wetting your mouth and throat prevents pills from getting stuck due to dryness,” says Wozniak. “And drinking after you swallow the pill also prevents it from getting stuck in your throat.”
And stick to water, says Wozniak. “Other drinks, such as dairy or fruit juices, can interact with certain medications,” she says.
Tip #2: Use the bottle method for tablets and the lean-forward method for capsules.
A study published in the Annals of Family Medicine evaluated 2 pill-swallowing techniques: the bottle method and the lean-forward method. And they worked. The techniques improved swallowing in 60% and 89% of patients, respectively.
“To try the bottle method, first place the pill on your tongue,” says Wozniak. “Close your lips tightly around a water bottle,” and then suck as you tilt your head back. Don’t let air into the bottle, says Wozniak. You should feel the plastic collapse as the contents drain.
For the lean-forward method, which is best for capsules, start either sitting or standing with your chin up and shoulders back. “Place the pill in your mouth, then take a sip of water and quickly tilt your head forward while swallowing,” says Wozniak. “That moves the pill toward the back of your throat and takes your mind off the work of swallowing.”
